Federico Fazio has played just once for Spurs this season, in the League CupReuters

Tottenham Hotspur have turned down a preliminary offer from Sevilla to lure the out-of-favour Federico Fazio back to Spain on loan, according to local media reports. ABC claims Sevilla officials recently met with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who rejected the proposal that allegedly included an option for the La Liga outfit to secure the services of the Argentine on a permanent basis at the end of the season.

Fazio moved to North London in the summer of 2014 after Mauricio Pochettino met the player's €10m (£7.3m, $10.7m) release clause. The 28-year-old defender had led the Sevilla back-line as they won the Europa League, and was expected to do the same at White Hart Lane.

However, the defender has failed to make a significant impact since the switch. He racked up 20 Premier League appearances in his debut campaign, but has been overlooked this season following the summer arrivals of Toby Alderweireld and Kevin Wimmer.

Sevilla president Pepe Castro recently revealed the club were eager to bring the player back to the Sanchez Pizjuan – despite the two sides having a strained relationship dating back to Spurs' poaching of manager Juande Ramos from the Andalucian side in 2007.

"We are working on a number of options and Fazio is one of them," Castro told Radio Sevilla. "He is an option, but nothing has been completed yet. It is clear that Fazio did not leave Sevilla in the best of ways and that really upset me, but I have to think about Sevilla's interests. I have to swallow my anger, because this club needs Fazio. I do not like swallowing my pride, but I am willing to do something I do not like because it is in Sevilla's best interest."

ABC reports that Sevilla begin negotiations regarding the player on 4 January, as the January transfer window opened.

The Spanish publication claimed that Sevilla met with Levy, proposing a loan deal with the option to make the move permanent in the summer. Levy, however, called the offer unsatisfactory. The two parties are expected to meet again in the near future.

Sevilla have earmarked Fazio as a top priority to bolster their defence, and the player is likely eager to return to La Liga after having failed to play a single Premier League game this season. Nevertheless, ABC claims that the club are considering other alternatives should Levy remain closed to negotiations over the his departure.